|
News
On 4 November, United Nations Institute for Training
and Research (UNITAR) [1], representing the
Global Migration Group (GMG), shared its vision for how
the UN and its partners can support migrants
and governments in the face of the current economic crisis.
Dr. Carlos Lopes, Executive Director of UNITAR and current
Chair of the GMG, addressed Ministers and heads of delegation
at the third Global Forum on Migration and Development
(GFMDIII) (www.gfmdathens2009.org) in Athens, on 4 November.
He emphasized the GMG's willingness to support governments
in ensuring that development gains stay on track; that
migrants' rights are protected; and that data be made
more readily available on this growing phenomenon [2].
In the GMG press conference [3] also on 4 November in
Athens, presided by Dr. Lopes, emphasis was placed on
the protection of migrants' rights and on the benefits
of market regulation. Agence France Presse pointed out
the fact that a rally was to take place outside the conference
hall by migrants who
considered their interests are not being represented.
Dr. Lopes stressed the centrality of human
rights protection to the UN agenda. Mr. Bacre Ndiaye,
UNHCHR, concurred: "if people are working in a
given country, it is because they are needed…. If they
are needed, they must be protected…Countries
must ask themselves: what is our value system? If it is
one that upholds democracy, human rights, it must uphold
the rights of all human beings". The Director-General
of IOM, Mr. William Lacy Swing, stressed that public information
and education are instrumental to enhancing the protection
of
migrants. Ms. Jeni Klugman, in presenting the UNDP Human
Development Report (2009) entitled
"Overcoming barriers: Human mobility and development",
added: "Generally speaking, ensuring the
integration of migrants helps to secure their rights".
On questions pertaining to the benefits of countries'
regulating their labour markets, Dr. Lopes stressed; "unregulated
markets create a mess; there are important incentives
to get this right". Ms. Klugman concurred: "lack of regulation
has social costs…: a relatively large presence of migrants
in an irregular situation can undermine… the rule of law".
ILO provided country-specific examples of the benefits
of regularizing the labour force. At the same time, Ms.
Hania Zlotnik of UNDESA was hopeful that the processes
resulting from the UN
General Assembly's High-level Dialogue (2006) such as
the Global Forum, are contributing to making migrants'
voices heard.
[1]
United
Nations Institute for Training and Research
[2]
Joint
Statement of the Global Migration Group at the GFMD3
[3]
Press
release on the press conference of the Global Migration
Group
|
